Cold Lake Expansion Project hearing has more clarity for municipalities and settlements who filed

The applicants who filed to speak on Elizabeth Metis Settlement’s appeal to the Alberta Energy Regulator on Imperial Oil’s Cold Lake Expansion project have more information about the hearing.

In May, Kehewin Cree Nation, Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation, and Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, was approved to speak at the hearing, along with the City of Cold Lake and M.D. of Bonnyville.

During the Cold Lake city council meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Craig Copeland said the city received a letter which stated the terms of the upcoming hearing.

Cold Lake and M.D. of Bonnyville will be able to speak towards the fourth issue at the hearing, which asks if the approval of the Cold Lake Expansion project would be in the public interest.

Elizabeth Metis Settlement will speak towards the issue of whether Imperial’s project approved by the EPA directly or adversely affect members ability to use harvesting rights including traditional land-use activities and waters, and whether the project will directly or adversely affect Metis members cultural connections to the lands and waters that will be impacted by the Cold Lake Expansion project.

Kehewin Cree Nation, Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, and Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement will be allowed to speak on whether the issues stated above for EMS can be appropriately addressed through conditions.

Mayor Copeland said a date for the hearing was not provided by in the letter.

The appeal may not happen if Elizabeth Metis Settlement withdraws their appeal.

More to follow.